Business Support Manager

We are experts in climate change, air quality and environmental data analysis.  The people we work with trust that we can help turn complex data into actions that solve environmental problems.  Because of our expertise, more and more organisations are choosing Aether when they need a trusted partner in environmental data collection, analysis, and solutions.  This is why we are growing, and why we need you!

Take a look at some of our work in action to find out more: Case studies

We have an exciting opportunity to support our small, friendly team of environmental experts.  As Business Support Manager you will play an integral role within the Aether team.  You will act as a central coordination point for all operational support, whether that’s championing team well-being (by promoting a safe, healthy and supportive workplace), collaborating closely with our management team, leading our dedicated operations team or effectively managing our office environment.

This is a varied role where you will have the opportunity to progress your career in a team that works together on projects that have impact, to help us meet our goal of a healthy planet for future generations.

We are looking for someone with a proactive mindset, someone who has the ability to identify priorities, as well as having a creative and solution-based approach to problem solving.  You will naturally be a great organiser, with excellent communication skills, someone who is able to influence, inspire, and work collaboratively with your colleagues.  You will have experience within an office management or business support role, and instinctively know how to support others, and be motivated by providing that support to the team.  If this sounds like you then we would love to hear from you.

Based in the heart of Oxford, we are a passionate team, with a shared value of supporting a healthy planet.  We are a team of experts, with a very human approach – we share our knowledge and have created an exciting and flexible environment to work in.  Our team works across the UK and overseas and regularly gets together for work or social events.

We live our environmental values – we regularly undertake environmental community projects as a team, and our generous pension scheme (8% employer contribution) invests in projects and infrastructure that supports decarbonisation.

Feeling included and valued, developing skills, and a focus on well-being;  these are all important to us here at Aether. We value our diverse teams and provide professional development and inclusive support in various ways.  We would love to discuss these benefits with you in more detail.

To find out more go to: Aether – World Experts in Environmental Data Analysis

To apply for this role please send your CV and covering letter to: recruit@aether-uk.com. Please include in your covering letter examples of where you have supported business improvements and/or managed a team.

Closing date: 26th November 2025

Interviews: Week commencing 8th December 2025

As part of our interview process, you will have opportunity to meet the team and demonstrate your skills by completing a desktop exercise.

If you believe you would add value to our team, but don’t meet all of the criteria we have described in this advert – we would still love to hear from you.  We value core skills rather than credentials, and appreciate your unique transferable skills and ability to apply them.

Please note, depending on skills and experience (and therefore salary) we may not be able to sponsor applicants who require a Skilled Worker Visa for this role. You will be asked as part of our recruitment process for documentation confirming your eligibility to work in the UK.

Business Support Manager

Overview of the job

The role’s purpose is ensuring the smooth operation of Aether by providing excellent support across our business, acting as a central coordination point for administrative, and operational support so that we achieve our wider Aether objectives.  Key responsibilities include:

• Effectively managing our office environment.
• Leading our small and dedicated operations team.
• Coordinating and managing the relationship with our external IT support provider.
• Champion team wellbeing by promoting a safe, healthy and supportive workplace; ensuring compliance with all health and safety standards and contributing to broader well-being initiatives.
• Supporting the delivery of clear and consistent internal communications; and supporting teams so that information is shared effectively.
• Managing the coordination and day-to-day administration of quality and environmental systems, leading on quality management processes and compliance.
• Collaborating closely with our Management Team to support and embed wider Aether goals and objectives into our day to day operations.
• Plan and manage our companywide events,  which help us to stay connected as a team.

Technical Expertise, Skills and Experience

Experience

You will have proven experience within an office management or business support role, including experience of line managing or supporting others.  You will also have significant and relevant experience working in a commercial office and hybrid team environment, and ideally have experience working with senior leadership or project teams.

Skills/Expertise

• You will have a proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate challenges and identify priorities and business needs.  You will also have a creative and solution-based approach to problem solving to find practical improvements to our office and team functions.
• Proven experience of coordinating work for others, with ability to motivate teams and inspire confidence.
• Exceptional organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to support the organisation and its management team; requiring minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills; able to influence, negotiate, and communicate effectively and collaboratively with colleagues at all levels.
• Analytical ability to interpret operational data to inform decision making.
• Strong attention to detail to produce accurate reports and documentation.
• An understanding of how excellent operational and business support functions , enable wider company goals to be met.
• Skilled at working with office-based, hybrid and remote teams, with a strong understanding of team dynamics, excellent communication skills, and the ability to foster a collaborative and motivated working environment.
• IT skills: High level of competence with Microsoft Office products. Confident and quick to learn new software. Experience in, and supporting others on, the use of business information systems.
• Experience of working with outsourced IT suppliers, to enable good communication of issues, good delivery of their services and vigilance on IT security.
• Experience of working within a quality management system (such as ISO9001); including auditing and continuous improvement of business processes.
• Previous experience of supporting a management or leadership team, including facilitating meetings and monitoring actions, or ability to carry out this role, would be advantageous.

Responsibilities and Position in the Organisation

For many of the items below it may be possible to delegate some tasks, but the Business Support Manager will be responsible for managing tasks and delivering outcomes/progress.

Operations Team

• Support the professional development, workload planning, and wellbeing of our operations team.  This currently involves the line manager of two team members.
• Management and delegation of tasks and responsibilities as required to our People and Operations Officer.

Business Operations (including IT and office)

• Lead on improving business systems and processes – reviewing, recommending and implementing improvements in our day-to-day systems.
• With the support of our Operations Director, oversee the relationship with our outsourced IT provider, ensuring that IT activities such as maintenance, upgrades, and scheduled shutdowns are well coordinated and communicated across the organisation.
• Manage our IT assets and inventory; communicating regularly with our team to ensure good IT security. Managing IT security compliance and accreditation.
• Ensure efficiency of team communications channels and systems, supporting effective use of resources such as Teams, and SharePoint.
• Regular management of the office space ensuring we have the resources we require as well as providing a safe and pleasant working environment.
• Ensure mandatory health and safety compliance while fostering a culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and engagement.
• Manage the People and Operations Officer, who has responsibility for office administration tasks – call handling, timesheets, post, travel arrangements, meetings and meeting rooms, running regular company meetings.
• Actively manage and take the lead on our insurance policy renewals.
• Help maintain selected content and material for our company website.

Supporting the Management Team

• Provide executive and administrative support for Management Team meetings, including agenda preparation, coordination, and follow-up actions.
• Support the provision of non-finance related management information for the Management Team (this may include preparing regular performance updates, dashboards, or reports for the Operations Director or Management Team).
• Wider operational or business support as needed e.g. supporting business development activities and commercial processes.

People and Communications

• Enable and support effective communications within Aether, ensuring information is shared clearly, consistently and in a timely manner across all teams.
• Be visible and accessible to all team members, encouraging open dialogue and keeping informed of team morale and workplace dynamics; this includes a consistent on-site presence to build rapport with team members and help facilitate feedback.
• Collaborate with our Head of People and Bid Manager in ensuring that all organisational policies and processes are up to date, consistent, well communicated and embedded in our day-to-day operations.
• Manage the central issue log for incidents, accidents, and customer feedback, coordinating timely responses and actions with Directors.
• Lead the coordination of company-wide events and away days, ensuring they are run smoothly and help create opportunities for connection, engagement, and team development.

Quality management, Compliance & Project Administration

• Responsible for keeping our integrated management system up to date – ISO9001 Quality management and ISO14001 Environmental Management; conducting internal audits and ensuring external accreditation is achieved.
• Ensure all administrative and operational processes comply with company policies, data protection, and relevant UK legislation.
• Support Project Managers in the smooth running of projects.
• Monitor business information to support business improvements.

Hours and location

This could be a full-time or part-time role, with some flexibility on hours and days.  The level of wider team support can be varied to suit.  However, at a minimum the agreed hours will be 3.5 days per week, with a minimum of 3 days per week in our Oxford office.